Ever feel like someone is telling you that you can’t measure up? That something is wrong with you?
If so, have you ever stopped to ask, “Who is saying these things? Who is causing me to doubt myself? Is it me? Is there something from my past that led me to believe this? Or is it the enemy of my soul disguising his voice as my own?”
Satan is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him (John 8:44). Oh how he loves when we believe his deception and fall into the ditractions of feeling inadequate and insecure.
The meaning of the word lie is “a falsehood with the intent to deceive.” Satan intends to deceive us and he does so by getting us to take our eyes off of who we are in Christ and focus on our flaws. That way we’ll spend our days figuring out how we can hide them. It’s exactly what he did with Eve:
“Then the eyes of both [Adam and Eve] were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’
He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” (Gen. 3:7–11)
In response, God asked who told them they were naked. In other words, “Who told you that something is wrong with you?” By asking this, God made sure they knew someone was casting shame on them—and it wasn’t Him.
The enemy whispered lies into their hearts, causing them to move away from Him and from each other.
Satan’s intent is the same for you and me as it was for Eve, but we don’t have to go along with him. Instead we can refute his lies and temptations with truth. If we have put our trust in Christ as our Savior, we can stand on the promises of who we are in Him.
In his book, Victory Over the Darkness, Dr. Neil T. Anderson says, “The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!” Here is a compilation of Scriptures Dr. Anderson’s ministry created to remind us of who we are in Christ.
I am accepted . . .
- John 1:12 I am God’s child.
- John 15:15 I am a friend of Jesus Christ, as His disciple.
- Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
- 1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
- Ephesians 1:3–8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
- Hebrews 4:14–16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure . . .
- Romans 8:1–2 I am free from condemnation.
- Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
- Romans 8:31–39 I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love.
- 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
- Colossians 3:1–4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
- Philippians 1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.
- Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
- 1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant . . .
- John 15:5, I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
- John 15:16, I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16, I am God’s temple.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
- Ephesians 2:6, I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
- Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship.
- Ephesians 3:12, I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
- Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Which one of these promises did you need to hear most today? What lie do you need to replace with truth 
as you reaffirm your significance, security and acceptance based not on what you say or do, but on what Jesus said and did for you!
When you’re tempted to measure up today, focus “up” instead and remember Whose you are and who you are – in Him!
Slip me a note and let me know what’s on your heart as you read this and/or my devotion through Proverbs 31 Ministries today. Simply click on “share your thoughts” below this post and your note will be placed in the drawing for our…
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Dealing with an illness/injury that affects your life, daily, can lead me to a slippery slope of not feeling confident. So everyday I am reminded to put on the full armor of God. Somedays it goes on to slowly, not completely or at all! Your book and the 7 day diet will help me fight the good fight! I find myself comparring my old life to my new one. And somedays it is so overwhelming. Thank you for helping me keep my eyes unto the hills where my true help comes from!
I grew up listening to how I ruined my mom’s health by being born and how she wished I had never been born. I tried so hard growing up to “earn” her love only to fall short time and time again. I tried anorexia, overeating, and overspending to find something to fill the emptiness in my soul. It has taken many years to begin to understand that my true worth comes only from God. He is the only one who can fill the emptiness I felt for most of my life.
I’m so sorry for your pain. You were created by the hand of God and He loves you with an immeasurable love! Praying you will know that truth to the depths of your soul!
Renee, this is my struggle. My entire life I have been led to believe the enemy’s lies that no matter what I do, it will never be good enough to earn God’s love and forgiveness. Being abandoned by my mother it is very difficult for me to believe the truth that I cannot be sparated from God’s love. I’ve never experienced this unconditional love in my entire life and the enemy is causing me to stay in a clinical depression. I am trying very hard to believe truth instead of lies but it is a contant struggle. Thank you for these truths from God’s Word. I will write them down and focus on Truth not lies. This is the verse that stuck out to me: Romans 8:31–39 I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
spent the walk in to work this am comparing myself with a co-worker and feeling like I don’t measure up. What a blessing to have your encouraging words in my inbox as the first email I opened! I’m going to put some of these promises on my monitor so I don’t forget!
This message today is so important. thanks for sharing it on you blog
Good morning!
All of these are beautiful truths and glorious reminders of how protected and loved I am (we are). There were a few that made my heart jump at the need for them:
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.
One of the ways that satan tempts me to believe his lies about me is to remind me of my past – when I was a sold out believer of those lies. My life was riddled with sin and my mind was a wreck. Life became overwhelming, and although I didn’t want to take medication I let others convince me that it was the help I needed. So, I began taking a mixture of prescription pills and those pills began stealing even more of my life away. Although they were prescribed for anxiety and depression, horrifyingly, all that they did was lock me away inside of myself with all of the lies that were built in a lifetime of sexual, physical and emotional abuse that had never been dealt with. I was so lost in that haze maze that I couldn’t even remember who God was – which was further exacerbated by having been more devoted to churchianity than Christianity. But, thanks to God that wasn’t the end of my story.
I am humbled, overwhelmed, and grateful for His sacrifice, to be one with Him, to live in the protection and provision of His power and love and to have been given the peace of a sound mind. I know the joy of belonging, the sweet taste of victory through Jesus no matter any circumstance and the beautifully provisional stretch and grow that comes with surrendering to His work in me. And I’m grateful for His mercies for this work in progress that I am.
When my mind gets to wandering to these things and I begin to feel pulled into that lake of lies I remember this:
Lamentations 3:19-24, I remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
And while I know The Message isn’t a literal translation I like how it expresses these verses as well:
‘ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
I appreciate your faithfulness to His call. Your words provided a needed reminder. 🙂
All these verses speak to me. However, the one that has always been a part of my life is Philippians 4:13. I know that with God’s help I can do all things.
Thank you for you for putting together these devotions. I took your 7 day diet and it was good. Now God is sending it to me again through Proverbs 31 and I’m seeing new things. (I can be hard headed.) Thank you for using your gift to bless others. It has blessed my life.
Reading A Confident heart now and loving it!!!
Thank you Renee Swope for your obedience
to the Lord!!!!
What a wonderful reminder of who God has made me to be! Thank you for sharing this wonderful truth. I pray that I will remain in God’s love and live out of all the wonderful things He has given me, because He has! (If I could just stay there and not buy in to Satan’s distractions) Just earlier this week I was comparing myself to someone else I admire. I came home feeling inadequate and sad. I know that only distracts me from loving them fully and living my life fully. Thank you for reminding me to not buy in to the lies of this world but to remember the truth that God says about me!
At the present time I am facing some changes in my life and I needed to be reminded of Philippians 4:13 “I can do al things through Christ who gives me strength.” I know He can work it all out for His glory and do a better job than I can but I just need that reminder at times. I had become comfortable with things the way they were but that isn’t His will at this time so I must trust Him. I am looking forward to what wonderful things He has in store for me in the future because I know He will never leave me nor forsake me as His daughter. Thank you for this precious reminder.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me
Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
These three as I fight against letting the anxiety dominate…remembering that my steps are ordered of GOd, and His promise is eternal life with Him.
Renee, thank you for this devotion! It really spoke to me! I have copied the verses you listed and saved them on my computer so that I will always have them to read when I need them. I can not wait til your book comes out!
Renee, thank you for taking the time to share those verses. I just told someone yesterday that I am a “weakness-focuser” and God continues to beckon me to look only to Him for my identity. I am getting my Bible and jumbo yellow highlighter right now.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing God’s words and love today……it was exactly the reassurance and encouragement that I needed to hear. I have been struggling with how I continue to fail to measure up and how I’m such a let down….I think I’ve been trying to convince God to see me through my eyes….instead of seeing myself through God’s eyes and allowing His strength, love and provision to be mine.
It’s a journey of surrender — but not failure in myself but victory through God……I thank you for the all the verses to keep my eyes focused on God’s truth not Satan’s lies.
Hi Renee, This devotion hits me right between the eyes. I am doing an online bible study and our verse yesterday was Ephesians 2:10. I commented that I compare myself or focus on my weaknesses all too often and not on God’s provision or what He thinks of me. I so want to overcome this struggle! Thank you for your work and ministry.
Thank you. This is reaffirmation of other things I have seen in my devotionals lately 🙂
Renee: You are such a blessing to all of us who are confronted by Satan’s lies abtout our beauty, worth and significance as daughters of the King. I also love your photo album about your adoption story. Like you, my husband and I have two wonderful sons and feel called to bring a daughter or daughters into our family through adoption. I am sharing this devotional with a dear friend and ministry partner who is seeking to reach out to those who have been victiminzed by Satan’s lies. May you and your family be blessed abundantly.
I would love to win this book! Pretty much my whole life I’v compared myself to other women
with feelings like I’m not as pretty as others or as smart etc.. I’m not sure what that stems from
although deep down I know its not true.
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Janet W.
[email protected]
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I have struggled with self-doubt for as long as I can remember, but I have hope because God has recently been making me more aware of it and helping me to overcome it. Your devotional was just another confirmation from God that he is helping me to stop believing Satan’s lies and start beieving His truths. Praise God!